The Slow Approach
The Slow Approach
Click here for the audio of this week’s newsletter: http://tiny.cc/i066101
Everyone is running on empty, it seems, rushing here and there, listening only to sound bites and thinking they know what’s really going on. It’s this age of social media platforms and AI-driven info, too often taken out of context, making it hard to really understand what’s going on. This way of being impatient to really listen to what is being said, rather than pausing to sit with what you think you heard. Maybe it’s best to slow down and double-check what you heard to make sure not only is it a fact, but also that we fully comprehend the intended message. Who actually is giving the message? How to address this rush and push, where ignorance too often drives instead of calm, collective communication and reasoning.
Some of the greatest athletes, as well as others from different careers and fields, are voicing their approach to slowing things down. They’re seeking other, more optimal pathways to pursue their desires, especially as many of these well-known people are aging and want to continue following their chosen path. More is not always better, especially when considering learning something new, whether academically, in fitness, in exploring The Feldenkrais Method®, or anything that gets your attention. As you all have so much on your plate and only so many hours in a day, it’s best to focus on what really moves the needle forward. It’s important to know when to pause and stop, to allow what you have been learning the time to integrate and become part of you. Listening and learning how these patterns of slowing do, offer more in improved self-use, comprehending what another is sharing, and also being able to read between the lines of what one says, now compare that to what they do.
Winging something, “flying by the seat of your pants”, is one approach, but when you turn your attention to an intention, no matter what your focus is, one of the hardest lessons people have is learning how to commit to doing less, doing it smarter, and giving yourself the time to recover, as learning is hard work. It takes us outside our familiar, so slowing things down offers the benefit of tuning in. This comes from being highly intentional regarding what’s most important to you. Then, can you have a sense of humor and be willing to be confused and, at times, even incorrect? Mistakes are made to learn from, so have a sense of humor instead of taking yourself too seriously, and let’s learn from the mistakes we all make.
“Every noble work is at first impossible.” – Thomas Carlyle (Scottish essayist and historian)
How often do you ask yourself questions in the morning, starting your day, as to who you are, what your intention is for the day, and how you will begin to focus on creating the best day for you, creating your outcomes? Are others included in your focus? When we ask ourselves these questions and listen to our bodily responses, we can better recognize when we’re pushing against resistance, when it might be best to reflect, when it’s time to rest, or when to focus on another pathway that might lead to a better outcome.
“To learn we need time, attention, and discrimination; to discriminate we must sense. This means that in order to learn we must sharpen our powers of sensing, and if we try and do most things by sheer force of will we shall achieve precisely the opposite of what we need.” – Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
Wishing you all an enjoyable holiday if you celebrate the 4th of July. It was an extremely hot one, so I hope you took good care of yourself, and I look forward to connecting with you and learning more about what’s most important to you.
I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time and attention this week.
Be well and stay focused on what’s most important to you.
Warmest,
Peggi
